Rama urges: Resolve Osmeña case

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama is demanding that the Office of the Ombudsman render its ruling on the complaint he filed against former mayor and current South District Representative Tomas Osmeña in 2012.

Rama sued Osmeña for allegedly using the US-made Dodge Charger cars that were supposedly donated by Bigfoot Entertainment Chairman Michael Gleissner to the city government.

“Ombudsman, where is my resolution? I am really not just requesting. I am now demanding because it’s been too long,” Rama said yesterday.

He said he sent a letter to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales for an update on the case but he has not received a response until now.

Rama said he remembered the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas informing him that it concluded its investigation into the complaint in December 2013, although the office did not divulge its investigation. Resolutions of complaints by the Ombudsman’s satellite office like the one here in Cebu need to be approved the central office in Manila.

“My predecessor has been filing cases against treasurer (Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas)…  I only filed one. Where is the resolution and conclusion of the dodge complaint I made at the Ombudsman?” Rama asked.

Osmeña has filed 26 complaints against Cuevas and City Accountant Mark Salomon before Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima in Manila and another 12 cases against both treasurer and accountant before the Civil Service Commission.

Another complaint that was filed by Rama recently is the one involving the release of the P20,000 calamity aid to city employees in 2013.

Lawyer Reymelio Delute, a member of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (organization founded by Osmeña), sued Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and 12 city councilors for alleged grave misconduct, arguing that those who received the aid were not affected directly by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in October and typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Rama said the result of the case he filed against Osmeña should be divulged since it involves violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees prohibits public officials and employees from accepting or soliciting any gift from any person in the course of performing their official duties.

In 2007 during Osmeña’s term as mayor, Bigfoot Global Solutions was among the first investors at the reclaimed South Road Properties.

However, Osmeña insisted the cars were not donated to the city and that there were no documents that could prove otherwise. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMO (FREEMAN)